Truss,tooth connector and method of assembly



J. C. JUREIT March 31, 1970 TRUSS, TOOTH CONNECTOR AND METHOD OFASSEMBLY Filed March 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI INVENT OR JOHN C. JUREIT ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 J. c. JUREIT 3,503,173

TRUSS, TOOTH CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF .ASSEMBLY Filed March 3, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I08 T 94 T 96 T 98 1 m T I02 no i r & 4 6 i IOB I26 INVENTOR JOHN C. JUREIT BY JMM MM ATTORNEYX Uited States Patent C 3,503,173 TRUSS, TOOTH CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY John C. Jureit, Miami, Fla., assignor to Automated Building Components, Inc., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 620,495 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Jan. 17, 1984, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. E04c 3/42, 3/18 US. Cl. 52644 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to metal connectors for forming various wooden structures and more particularly to metal connectors for forming load bearing structural elements such as root trusses for mobile homes and the like. It also relates to the novel trusses formed with the connectors and to an improved method of assembling the prefabricated trusses.

As disclosed in my US. Patent 3,298,151, issued Jan. 17, 1967, in mobile homes and in other light framing installations, builders sometimes use a supporting structure referred to as a bow string truss. This truss consists of two elongated structural wood elements referred to as the upper and lower chords, which are joined at their ends but are separated intermediate the ends by one or more transverse elements in the nature of spacing webs or struts. The chords are unitary pieces of wood, at least several feet in length, with the lower chord substantially straight or having only a slight camber, while the upper chord is bent or arched between its ends so that its center point, midway between the ends of the truss, is spaced at least several inches from the lower chord. The upper chord is prestressed into an arcuate or curved position and this curved shape is maintained by the previously mentioned intermediate struts. Such a truss is quite capable of supporting very substantial loads for its size and weight.

In constructions of this type, the loads to which the truss is subjected are relatively small as compared to those to which the heavier truss constructions of a larger permanent home or ofiice building is subjected, and economy is usually an all important factor in mobile home construction. In the past, the intermediate struts have, for the most part, been formed of wood, and difficulty has been experienced in maintaining proper curvature in a bow string truss. No completely satisfactory low cost method had been found to provide adequate strength in the truss which is necessarily formed from relatively light weight structural load supporting members.

In the prefabricated construction of bow string trusses with a conventional nailing technique, the utilization of lap joints for the intermediate strut members results in a structure lacking a coplanar configuration since the overlapping strut members necessarily lie outside the plane of the upper and lower chords. This increases the ice cost of handling and shipping the trusses. On the other hand, the provision of butt joints for the spacing struts necessitates trimming at least one end of each strut so as to match the curvature of the abutting chord in order to obtain a rigid, strong, and tight-fitting nail joint between the strut and the respective chord. Furthermore, in this latter type of construction, the nails must be driven into the ends of the struts either at an angle or completely through the chord, which not only increases the cost of manufacture but also increases the chances of wood splitting and accompanying weakening of the overall truss structure.

The above and other disadvantages of known prior art constructions were substantially overcome by the novel metal connectors and bow string truss incorporating them as disclosed in my aforementioned US. Patent 3,298,151. The connectors and trusses formed according to that patent have proven quite satisfactory and have gained widespread commercial acceptance, particularly in the mobile home building industry.

The present invention provides an improved assembly of the type disclosed in that patent having increased strength and economy of manufacture and one which is particularly suited to the formation of bow string roof trusses of mobile homes. In one embodiment constructed in accordance with the present invention, the intermediate metal connectors or struts take a form generally similar to that disclosed in my US. Patent 3,298,151, but, in addition, are provided with apertures at each end for the reception of intermediate tie members which increase the strength of the truss by forming non-yielding tensile diagonals. These are preferably formed from wires, cable, metal bands, or the like, and may be suitably attached to each of the transverse struts or, if desired, may be passed through the apertures of the center or intermediate struts and tied, flattened, bent, or otherwise suitably fastened at their outermost ends to the ends of two transverse connectors.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the metal connectors take a novel form or shape in which they are provided with only a single, elongated flange, again suitably dimpled or apertured for connection to a tensile diagonal formed preferably by a wire connected to a point adjacent the upper end of one strut and the lower end of a next adjacent strut. In this embodiment, the connectors otfer extra rigidity and are particularly adapted for insertion into the wooden elements of the truss from only one side of the truss. This provides improved economy of manufacture since the truss may be more readily assembled and prefabricated by simply laying it out in a suitable jig on a flat surface, such as a table or the like, and driving the connectors, either simultaneously or individually, into only a single side of the truss.

Finally, a still further modified embodiment is disclosed wherein the connector plate forming one of the intermediate struts or webs of the truss is simply a flat, reinforced plate without any flanges but having punched therefrom, suitable tabs which bear against and act to maintain the separation of the upper and lower truss chords. The punched out tabs leave apertures which again provide a device for reliably securing the transverse strut to a tensile diagonal such as a wire so as to improve the strength of the truss and increase its resistance to diagonal tensile loads.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved, load-bearing, Wooden structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wooden truss having intermediate metal connectors with improved economy, strength, and ease of manufacture. In the preferred embodiment, the truss takes an improved bow string truss having diagonal tensile members interconnecting transverse metal struts so as to increase the capability of the truss to withstand diagonal tensile loads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved metal connector for prefabricated, loadbearing, wooden assemblies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved metal connector for forming intermediate struts in a prefabricated wooden truss.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved intermediate connectors for a bow string truss particularly suited for use in mobile homes. In the preferred embodiments, the connectors are provided with apertures, dimples, or other similar devices formed integral with the connectors so that they may be readily tied or otherwise simply secured to tensile members forming a part of the truss.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for assembling prefabricated wooden structures and particularly bow string trusses especially suited for use in mobile homes.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a bow string truss constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a connector plate forming one of the intermediate webs or struts of the truss of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section through the truss of FIG- URE 1 taken along line 33 of that figure;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view showing a modified bow string truss constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified connector plate constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a bow string truss formed in accordance with the present invention and mi lizing as struts, connector plates formed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross section through the truss taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 shows how the truss of FIGURE 6 may be economically manufactured by inserting all the connector plates from one side of the truss; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing a further modified connector plate constructed in accordance with the present invention and particularly adapted for use in bow string trusses of the type illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4, and 6.

Referring to the drawings, the novel bow string truss of the present invention, generally indicated at 10 in FIG- URE 1, comprises an upper chord 12 and a lower chord 14, joined at the ends on either one or both sides by flat connector plates indicated in FIGURE 1 at 16 and 18. Plates 16 and 18 and the corresponding plates on the other side of the truss, if used, are flat, rectangular strips, preferably made of galvanized sheet metal, having integral teeth punched therefrom and may take the form of the plates disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,877,520, or the form disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 293,949, filed July 10, 1963.

Upper chord 12 is preferably an elongated piece of lumber of at least several feet in length and is provided with a substantial curvature at its center so as to define a spacing between the chords 12 and 14 of at least several inches. In some cases the two chords of the bow string truss may be separated at their midpoints by as much as almost a foot. While shown as integral pieces of lumber, chords 12 and 14 obviously may be formed of sections suitably rigidly joined to form what is, in effect, a single or unitary element. Lower chord 14 will ordinarily have some slight camber but this is small relative to the curvature of the upper chord 12 and for the sake of clarity, lower chord 14 is illustrated in the drawings as substantially horizontal and straight.

Joining the upper chord 12 to the lower chord 14' at spaced points along the lengths of the chords, are a plurality of intermediate connectors 20, 22 and 24 which form vertical or transverse webs or struts between the upper chord 12 and the lower chord 14. Struts 20, 22, and 24 are all of identical construction with the exception that the center strut 22 is longer than the outside struts 20 and 24, these latter being of equal length.

Strut 22 is illustrated in more detail in FIGURE 2 and it comprises an elongated central channel 25 having a substantially U-shaped cross section to denfie a pair of spaced flanges 26 and 28, with the connector terminating at each end in flat rectangular end plates 30 and 32. Punched out from the end plates, so as to extend perpendicular to them, are a plurality of slender, elongated naillike teeth 34, adapted to be driven into the chords 12 and 14 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. Each tooth is slender and nail-like in appearance and has a length at least six times the thickness of the connector. The teeth are all provided with scarved points 40 formed by flat, beveled end surfaces such that the beveled edges of the teeth in adjacent rows face outwardly away from each other. These teeth are formed in the same manner as those in my US. Patent No. 3,298,151. When driven into the wooden elements by a punch press or the like, the reaction force of the wood bearing on the flat beveled surfaces cause the teeth to deflect or bend over to produce a tight gripping or clenching action which increases the withdrawal resistance of the teeth.

Each of the connectors 20, 22, and 24, is preferably formed of an originally fiat, rectangular sheet of mild steel stock, either plain or galvanized, having an overall width of 1 /2 inches. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet stock is ZO-gauge galvanized steel (US. Standard gauge), having a minimum thickness of .0382 inch and a maximum thickness of .0425 inch. The end plates 30 and 32 have a Width in a direction panallel to the channel 25 of A3 of an inch which dimension remains the same irrespective of the length of the connector. The only thing that varies in size is the length of the channel 25 and various channel lengths are currently manufactured such as 1 /8 inches, 2. inches, 2 /8 inches, 3% inches, 3% inches, 4 /2 inches, and at further /8 inch intervals all the way up to 7 inches. Thus, suitable connector lengths are available for positioning the connectors at any desired position along almost any size bow string truss.

The original flat rectangular blank is subjected to a stamping treatment in which the flanges 26 and 28 are punched out and folded over into the generally U-shaped position illustrated. During the punching operation, the teeth 34 are also punched out to form two rows of teeth in the top plate 30 and the similar two rows of teeth in the bottom plate 32. The teeth are punched out to leave the corresponding slots 38 in the top end plate 30 and the bottom end plate 32.

In the preferred embodiment, previously mentioned, the angle of the scarved point of each of the teeth is 45. The extension of the flanges from the base of the channel 25 is preferably a minimum of .510 inch and a maximum of .540 inch and the channel is provided with radii at the juncture of theflanges with the base of the channel having a radius of curvature of from .020 to .030 inch. The width of each tooth is preferably inch. The interior channel width is .550 inch.

As previously mentioned, each of the end plates is provided with two rows of three teeth each defining a total of six teeth for each of the plates of the connector. However, in order to provide adequate strength across these plates, the center tooth of each row is preferably slightly shorter than the two end teeth and furthermore is slightly offset from the center line of the row as best seen in FIGURE 2. The outside teeth, i.e., the end teeth in each row, have an overall length of .350 inch as measured from the adjacent or back surface of the end plates while the middle or offset teeth of each row have an overall length of .312 inch from this same surface. The center teeth of each row have their center lines offset from a center line passing through the end teeth by .062 inch. This dilference in tooth length and offset position of the center teeth is provided to insure a sufiicient net section of metal in the end plates so as to provide adequate resistance to forces exerted on the truss. Other important features determining the dimensions and locations involve the provision of enough metal to make practical the fabrication of the teeth from the punch die, the necessity of getting enough working space in the die, and locating the teeth so as to avoid any likelihood of splitting the lumber when they are pressed or otherwise driven into the truss chords.

The base 40 of the channel 25 is provided with apertures 42 adjacent each end as are the flanges 26 and 28. These apertures are adapted to receive a tensile member such as the wire 44 illustrated in FIGURE 2 passing through the apertures in the lower end of each of the flanges 26 and 28. The wire 44 is also illustrated in FIG- URE 1 and passes through similar apertures in the flanges of struts 20 and 24, and is suitably secured to these struts as by tieing, bending, twisting, or the like. While metal wire is illustrated in the preferred embodiment, the diagonal tensile member 44 may alternatively be made of cable, metal bands, plastic tapes, or plastic rope, or other similar non-yielding material which will resist elongation. The tensile member 44 may simply pass through the apertures in the channel flanges of strut 22 or may be made in several sections and separately secured to each of the individual struts. In addition, other diagonal members may be included in the strut to increase its strength. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the struts 20, 22, and 24 preferably alternate along the length of the truss, i.e., alternate ones of the struts are driven into opposite sides of the truss.

FIGURE 4 shows a modified embodiment of a truss generally indicated at 50 wherein the intermediate vertical struts 52, 54, 56, and 58 are again constructed in the manner of the connector illustrated in FIGURE 2. Upper chord 60 and lower chord 62 are again joined at their ends by flat connector plates 64 and 66 which, as in the previous embodiment, may be used singly, or in pairs, on opposite sides of the truss ends. The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4 differs from that previously described, in that four struts are provided in the truss. In addition, two diagonal tensile members are utilized in the form of metal wires 68 and 70.

Wire 68 is rigidly secured to the upper end of strut 52 and passes diagonally through apertures 42 adjacent the lower end of strut 54 and after passing through the apertures in strut 56, is secured adjacent the uper end of that strut. A second similar wire 70 passes from the upper end of strut 54 through the apertures in the lower end of strut 56 and is attached to the upper end of righthand strut 58. The wires preferably pass through both flange apertures of the struts and are connected to the respective struts at their ends by tieing or bending over the ends. Struts 52, 54, 56, and 58 alternate along opposite sides of the truss and are chosen of such a length that the upper edge of at least one of the channel flanges of each strut bears against the underside of the upper chord 60 and preferably the lower edges of :both channel flanges such as the flanges 26 and 28 of FIGURE 2 bear against the upper surface of lower chord 60. If desired, the intermediate connectors may be all driven in from the same side of the truss.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified connector plate for forming an intermediate strut in accordance with the present invention. Strut 72 in FIGURE 5 comprises a pair of end plates 74 and 76 which are in all respects identical to 6 the end plates 30 and 32 of the strut of FIGURE 2. That is, they have struck out a plurality of integral teeth 78 corresponding in all respects to the teeth 34 of FIGURE 2, leaving slots 80 identical to the slots 38 of the earlier embodiment.

Connector 72 differs significantly from the connector 22 of FIGURE 2 in that it is provided with only a single rectangular flange 82, which is bent over to extend perpendicularly from the intermediate web 84 joining upper end plate 74 to lower end plate 76. Flange 82 is substan tially wider than rectangular web 84 so that flange 82 projects perpendicularly from the web a distance of at least half the thickness of the upper and lower chords of a bow string truss. The increased length of the flange 82 as compared to the flanges 26 and 28 of FIGURE 2 provides more rigidity in the truss and makes the connector 72 of FIGURE 5 particularly adapted for use in a truss wherein all connectors are driven in from the same side of the truss. Web 8-4 is slashed and is dimpled adjacent its upper and lower ends as at 86 in FIGURE 5 and flange 84 includes similar dimples adjacent its upper and lower ends. These dimples are simply bent out from the surface of plate a suflicient distance to permit a metal wire 88 or similar diagonal tension member to pass through the aperture 90 between the surface of the web (or the flange) and the curved apex of the rectangular dimple 86. The wires or other tension members may be readily and effectively secured to the struts by simply mashing down the dimple to bind the wire to the plate after it has passed through the aperture left by the dimple.

FIGURE 6'illustrates a truss 92, incorporating a plurality of struts 94, 96, 98, 100, and 102, all formed in the manner of the strut 72 of FIGURE 5. In addition, the truss 92 comprises the upper and lower wooden chords 104 and 106, joined at their ends by plates 108 and 110 as in the previously described embodiments. The upper and lower edges of the strut flanges in FIGURE 6, corresponding to the flange 82 of FIGURE 5, bear against the upper and lower chords and help to maintain the curved spacing between the chords of the truss. The struts are shown as connected by a single metal wire 112 which extends diagonally from the upper end of the strut 94, passes inwardly through the dimple 90 at the lower end of the web 84 of strut 96, and upwardly behind the web of strut 96 to emerge from the upper web aperture 90 as indicated by the dashed line at 114 in FIGURE 6, and then diagonally downwardly from the upper end of strut 96 to the lower end of the next adjacent strut 98 where it passes through a dimple of the strut. Wire 112 then extends to the upper end of strut 100, passes through the web of that strut and downwardly behind the web as indicated by the dashed lines 116, and emerges from the front of the web at the lower end of the strut to extend diagonally to the upper end of stmt 102 where its opposite end passes through a strut dimple and is secured to that strut. This constitutes one preferred manner of threading a single wire through all five of the struts, forming the truss 92 0f FIGURE 6. It is apparent that one or more tension members may be threaded through the struts in any desired manner in accordance with the particular size of the truss and the function it is to perform.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the middle strut 98 of FIGURE 6, and shows that the strut flange 82 extends perpendicularly from the web 84 over a major portion of the thickness of the chords 104 and 106. The increased length of this web makes it possible to insert all the struts in the truss 92 of FIGURE 6 from the same side of the truss, i.e., from the front side 118 in FIGURE 7 and still have a very rigid truss. Flange 82 extends more than halfway from the front surface 118 to the backside of the truss 120. This is made possible by the fact that the intermediate portion of the connector plate is folded over to form a flange 82 that is substantially wider than the remaining portion of the connector forming the web 84 integral with the end plates 74 and 76. The upper and lower edges 122 and 124 Z of the rectangular flange 82 bear against upper chord 104 and lower chord 106 respectively to help maintain the curved separation.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the simplified method of assembling the truss 92 of FIGURES 6 and 7. The various connectors 108, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, and 110, are illustrated diagrammatically as spaced above the lower chord 106 in FIGURE 8. It is understood that the upper and lower chords rest on a suitable support, illustrated generally at 126, which may be a truss fabricating table. The truss is conventionally held in a suitable jig (not shown) in a well known manner with the ends of the chords abutting, and the upper chord stressed into a bowed position by suitable clamps forming a part of a conventional prefabricating jig. The connectors are then moved in the direction of the arrows 128 in FIGURE 8, such that they rest directly on the upper and lower chords. The connectors may be driven sequentially or simultaneously by means of a suitable prefabricating press such that the connector teeth are fully embedded in the truss chords to form a finished and complete prefabricated bow string truss assembly. Once the connectors have been driven into the wooden elements, the jig is removed, the truss removed from the table 126, and two new pieces of lumber placed on the table and jigged into position for assembly of the next truss. As opposed to previous embodiments, the end plates 108 and 110 in FIGURES 6-8, are preferably used only on one side of the chord ends, consistent with the insertion of the intermediate webs from only one side. The wire 112 may be threaded through and secured to the webs, either before or after the truss is removed from the jig and table 106. It is understood that the chords with the intermediate and end connectors alone, form a completely finished truss which may be used without any tensile members such as the wire 112, whatsoever. However, in the preferred embodiment, the trusses include these wires so as to provide increased strength for the total size and Weight of the material employed in the truss.

FIGURE 9 shows a further embodiment of an intermediate strut or connector plate formed in accordance with the present invention and useable in any of the trusses of FIGURES 1, 4, and 6. The strut generally indicated at 130 in FIGURE 9, includes the end plates 132 and 134 again, in all respects identical with the end plates previously described and including the teeth 136 punched out to leave slots 138 identical in all respects to the teeth and slots previously described. However, in this embodiment, the end plates are formed as extensions of a substantially flat intermediate web 140 which is not folded over to form a perpendicular flange in the manner of the previously described embodiments. Instead, web 140 is preferably provided during the stamping operation with an embossment in the form of a stiffening rib extending almost the entire length of the web and spaced equally from the side edges along the length of the web. In addition to the punched out teeth 136, connector 130, adjacent the ends of stiffening rib 142, is provided with four punched out rectangular tabs 144, each leaving four rectangular apertures 146 in the web. The tabs extend perpendicularly from the web and are preferably at least slightly longer than the teeth 136 so that they help to position the connector 130 adjacent the upper and lower chords before the teeth are driven into the wood.

If it is desirable to use the modified strut or connector plate 130 of FIGURE 9 in a truss similar to that of FIGURE 6 where the connectors are all positioned on one surface of the truss, tabs 144 can be made longer, i.e., approximately as long as the flange 82 in FIGURE 5. The bent over tabs 44 engage the upper and lower chords when the truss is assembled in the manner of the upper and lower edges of the flange on the connectors previously described to help maintain the separation between the truss chords. At the same time, the apertures 146 permit diagonal tension members, such as the metal wire previously described,

to be threaded through the truss and secured to the connector plate in the manner previously described in conjunction with the trusses of FIGURES l, 4, and 6. The ta-bs need not necessarily he rectangular but may be of any desired shape which may be suitably punched from the metal of the web and may be formed at the time that the teeth 136 are punched out from the metal plate.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention provides improved, prefabricated, wooden assemblies having increased strength for the size and weight of the material employed. The invention is particularly adapted to the formation of bow string trusses often used in forming the roof structures of mobile homes, trailers, and the like. In all instances, the connectors may be driven in from only one side of the truss or if desired, may be staggered on alternate sides along the length of the truss. The exact manner of assembly, of course, depends on the size of the lumber used and the purpose for which the truss is designed, and it is apparent that for thinner wood, the projecting flanges or tabs need not be as long. In all cases, either the webs, flanges, or both, are provided with suitable apertures to permit diagonal tension members, such as wires, to be threaded through and secured to the metal struts of the truss. The present invention also contemplates impoved connector plates forming the intermediate struts of the truss and improved method of assembling and prefa'bricating a truss structure wherein all connector plates of the system are driven in from only one side of the truss.

Various changes and modifications will readily occur. For example, webs 40 and 84 of FIGURES 2 and 5 may, if desired, be embossed to provide a stiffening rib for increased strength much in the manner of the strengthening rib 142 illustrated in FIGURE 9 In addition, the tooth configuration of the end plates, including the number and spacing of the teeth, may be changed in accordance with the size of the truss and the load to which it is expected to be subjected. In all cases, the intermediate struts are formed from what is originally an elongated, flat, rectangular sheet of metal, preferably of mild steel, either galvanized or uncoated. They are preferably formed from rectangular strip stock out to suitable length so that the connectors may be positioned at almost any desired point along the length of a variety of different truss shapes and sizes. The various apertures, embossments, tabs, flanges and teeth may be formed, if desired, in a single operation since all involve more or less conventional stamping techniques. In the preferred em bodiments, the connectors are formed from sheet stock having a maximum thickness of ZO-gauge steel (U.S. standard gauge).

Although Wires have been mentioned for the tension members as preferred, it is apparent that other materials may be incorporated in strengthening the struss and these may be joined to two or more of the struts by a very simple and inexpensive operation made possible by passing the tension members throughthe strut apertures so that they may be tied, bent, mashed down, or otherwise simply secured to the struts. In addition, different diagonal tensioning configurations may be employed consistent with good truss design and the particular zig-zag and crossing configurations illustrated in FIGURES 1, 4, and 6, are given by way of example only.

Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for spaced truss elements comprising an elongated flat plate of sheet metal having a plurality of integral teeth punched out at each end and extending perpendicular to said plate, said plate including at least one aperture adjacent each end but spaced inwardly of said end from said teeth, and projecting means folded outwardly from said plate and extending parallel to said teeth, said projecting means including portions at each end of said plate adjacent said teeth for engaging between two spaced members of a truss.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said projecting means comprises at least one flange folded over from an area of said plate intermediate said teeth, said flange having upper and lower edges forming said truss member engaging portions.

3. A connector according to claim 2 including two flanges and wherein said apertures are in said flanges.

4. A connector according to claim 2 wherein said ends of said plate are joined by a web integral with said flange and said apertures are in said web.

5. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said projecting means extends in a direction perpendicular to said plate further than said teeth.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are formed by dimples extending outwardly from said plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are formed by tabs punched out of said plate, said tabs comprising said projecting means.

8. A connector for spaced truss elements comprising an elongated flat rectangular strip of sheet metal forming a pair of spaced end plates each having a plurality of integral teeth punched therefrom and extending perpendicular to said plates, an integral web joining said plates along one of the longer edges of said rectangular strip and a portion of the other longer edge of said rectangular strip being folded over to define a flange'integral with said web and extending parallel to said teeth, said flange being wider than said web, said strip including at least one aperture intermediate said end plates for receiving a truss reinforcing element.

9. A connector according to claim 8 wherein said strip is of mild steel having a thickness no greater than .0425 inch.

10. A connector according to claim 9 wherein said strip is galvanized.

11. A connector for spaced truss elements comprising an elongated flat rectangular strip of sheet metal forming a pair of spaced end plates extending along each shorter edge and each having a plurality of integral perpendicular teeth, an integral rectangular web joining said plates along one of the longer edges of said rectangular strip, a portion of the other longer edge of said rectangular strip being folded over to define a rectangular flange integral with said web and extending parallel to said teeth along the length of said strip between said plates, said flange being wider than said web and extending beyond said teeth, said strip including an aperture adjacent each end and between said plates for receiving a truss tensile reinforcing element.

12. A connector according to claim 11 wherein both said web and said flange are provided with said aperture.

13. A truss comprising a pair of spaced wooden elements, a plurality of metal connectors joining said elements, said connectors having integral teeth embedded in said wooden elements, and at least one truss reinforcing element passing through at least one of said metal connectors and joined to at least two of said connectors.

14. A truss according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said connectors is provided with an aperture and said reinforcing element comprises a wire passing through said aperture.

15. A bowstring truss comprising upper and lower chords, means joining said chords at each end of said truss, a plurality of intermediate connectors joining said chords, said connectors having integral teeth embedded in each chord, and means on each connector engaging and spacing the adjacent surfaces of said chords, said intermediate connectors being embedded in only one side of said truss, said connectors each comprising a flat metal strip having a portion of one edge folded over to define a flange extending between said chords, said flange being longer than said teeth, and a diagonal tension member passing through and joining at least two of said intermediate connectors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,021,772 4/1912 Grotenhuis 5-190 2,704,522 3/1955 Frieder et al. 52-641 3,298,151 l/1967 Juriet 287209 1,021,772 4/1912 Grotenhuis 5190 1,192,027 7/ 1946 Chorlton et al. 52-648 2,704,522 3/ 1955 Frieder et al 52641 3,298,151 1/1967 Juriet. 1,631,373 6/1927 Hewlett 52715 2,151,861 3/1939 McLellen 52694 2,255,270 9/1941 Pimm 28720.92 3,018,522 1/ 196 2 Reidelbach 52695 FOREIGN PATENTS 282,281 Switzerland.

328,049 7/ 1935 Italy.

165,196 1/1950 Austria.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-693; 28720.92 

